Pyothorax in Cats

What is pyothorax?

Pyothorax refers to the presence of inflammatory fluid or "pus" within the chest cavity, which is the area between the lungs and the inner walls of the ribs.

What causes pyothorax?

Pyothorax is usually caused by a bacterial infection in the chest cavity. In most cases, pus is present in both sides of the chest although occasionally only one side will be affected.

The source of the infection is rarely found although possible causes include:

1. Penetrating wounds to the chest wall.

2. Wounds to internal structures such as the esophagus or trachea (windpipe), especially following ingestion or inhalation of a foreign object.

3. A migrating foreign body such as a grass seed that entered the body elsewhere.

4. Spread of an infection from the lungs,

What are the clinical signs of pyothorax?

Rapid shallow breathing that may be painful, depression, lethargy, decreased appetite and other signs of illness are seen in most cats with pyothorax. These cats usually have a high temperature that contributes to some of the clinical signs. The rapid, open-mouth breathing or "breathlessness" is caused by the presence of fluid in the chest that prevents the lungs from expanding normally. The severity of these signs is extremely variable and cats may suddenly die without having had any previous signs of illness

How is pyothorax diagnosed?

Clinical examination by a veterinarian may provide some indication of fluid within the chest particularly on listening to the chest with a stethoscope. In mildly affected cases, chest radiographs (x-rays) will be performed to demonstrate the presence and location of fluid in the chest. In severe cases, it may be necessary to drain the fluid off of the chest immediately ( a procedure called a thoracocentesis or "chest tap") before taking x-rays. Sedation of the cat may be required to allow drainage of the chest. In many cases, the pus from both sides of the chest can be drained from one side, although it may be necessary to drain both sides in some cats. Sometimes, the fluid is present in "pockets" and multiple drainage procedures must be performed. Samples of the fluid should be sent to a laboratory for evaluation and bacterial culture so that the organism responsible can be found and an appropriate antibiotic given.

In cases of pyothorax where no obvious cause is determined, it is recommended that the cat be tested for Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).

How is pyothorax treated?

Drainage of the infected fluid plays an important part in the treatment of this condition.

"Drainage may be needed on multiple occasions during the initial treatment period."

Drainage may be needed on multiple occasions during the initial treatment period. In most cases, a flexible catheter will be inserted into the chest to remove the fluid. Fluids can also be administered via the tube to "lavage" or flush out the chest. In some cases, a special chest drain may be inserted surgically, allowing drainage of the chest and administration of antibiotics into the chest cavity. The drain may be left in place for several days to allow these procedures to be repeated.

Treatment with oral antibiotics is essential and the cat may need to stay on these for several weeks. In very sick cats, supportive treatment with intravenous fluids may also be needed in the initial stages.

What is the long-term outlook for a cat with pyothorax?

This depends on the cause of the disease. In those cases where no underlying disease is found, the outlook is good, if the cat survives the critical initial stages. Unfortunately, a proportion of cats will die in the early stages of their disease.

This client information sheet is based on material written by: Ernest Ward, DVM